Hockey Australia will renew investment in the on and off-field wellbeing of their Hockeyroos and Kookaburras as they seek an edge for a Paris Olympics campaign that's "everything'" for the sport.
The hockey programs will receive a portion of the federal government's $20 million Paris preparation fund, to be administered by the Australian Sports Commission, announced on Tuesday.
The money will assist Olympic athletes and their sports to overcome significant cost increases associated with travel and accommodation for qualifying events overseas.
Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said the boost was vital for the proud Olympic sport, particularly after funding for the women's program was cut on the eve of the 2021 Tokyo Games because the Hockeyroos were considered an unlikely Games medal prospect.
They were No.4 in the world at the time and, after a thorough overhaul, are now ranked second on the back of World Cup bronze and Commonwealth Games silver.
They battle New Zealand next month for direct entry into next year's Paris showpiece, where the side would aim to break a medal drought that stretches back to the most recent of their three golds at Sydney's 2000 Games.
"There was a fair bit of changeover at the end of 2021; new CEO, new high performance director, new coach, new president and new team," Pryles told AAP.
He said the "significant" 2021 funding cut cost them a second assistant coach and performance analyst but that Tuesday's news could again bolster that department and allow HA to invest further in their off-field mindset coaching.
"We've seen what the girls can do ... but you look down to India in eighth and you can throw a blanket over (the teams)," he said.
"It's going to be really, really tight.
"The men (who won silver in Tokyo) started the year No.1 in world, they're now No.6.
"So it's about 'how do we get that extra edge so when we're in Paris it can get us over the line?.'
"That's the advantage we're looking for and (Olympic success for hockey) is everything.
"It's a way of getting our funding back, selling our sport and getting more people playing."
Pryles said hockey players weren't alone in their sacrificial pursuit of Olympic glory.
"We're asking our players to prepare like a full-time athlete would do in the AFLW or for the Matildas," he said.
"It's symptomatic of Olympic sport; we ask our athletes to do so much just to try and get on the podium and that's their reward.
"It's why we all started playing sport, the love of it."
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said the funding was a "huge relief" for athletes and their sports during qualification periods.
“We think an Australia with more Olympians is a better Australia," he said.
"We know everyone on the team will inspire their clubs, their communities and our country. We now expect Australia again will have one of the five biggest teams next year.
